very very nicely done, now if the trend that can start from this continues, that will be great!
need to get other state heads of afb, ACB, and UCB to promote this correct (as these guys did) in the other states.
thanks, the elf----- Original Message ----- From: "Nimer" <nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <blind_html@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 11:38 AM Subject: blind_html [Fwd: [Cabs] text of Joint resolution 31]
"every time I say something they find hard to hear they chalk it up to my anger and never to their own fear" Ani Difranco: I'm Not A Pretty Girl 1995 Nimer M. JaberThe information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon this information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender via reply e-mail, and delete thematerial from any computer. Website: http://www.empowertheblind.org Phone: (720) (251-4530) -------- Original Message -------- Subject: [Cabs] text of Joint resolution 31 Date: Thu, 2 Apr 2009 10:00:12 -0700 From: Chris Foster <cfoster@xxxxxxxxx> Reply-To: Colorado Association of Blind Students List <cabs@xxxxxxxxxx> Organization: NFB of Colorado To: Colorado Association of Blind Students Mailing list <cabs@xxxxxxxxxx>, 'NFB of Colorado Discussion List' <colorado-talk@xxxxxxxxxx> Dear Federation Coleagues, Per Scott Labarre's request, please find atached to this message as well as posted below, the cleaned up text of the recently adopted joint resolution 31 both in the Senate and the House of the Colorado Assembly. Regards, Chris Foster First Regular Session Sixty-seventh General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO REVISED SJR09-031 LLS NO. R09-0962.01 Joel Moore SENATE SPONSORSHIP Shaffer B., HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Rice, Senate Committees House Committees SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 09-031 CONCERNING THE CONTINUING IMPORTANCE OF BRAILLE LITERACY IN THE LIVES OF BLIND CHILDREN AND ADULTS IN COLORADO AND ACROSS THE NATION, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, RECOGNIZING "NATIONAL BRAILLE READERS ARE LEADERS DAY". WHEREAS, Since its invention by Louis Braille, the reading and writing code for the blind that bears his name has become the accepted method of reading and writing for the blind the world over; and WHEREAS, Braille is used to represent not only the alphabets of most written languages but also mathematical and scientific notation and the reproduction of musical scores; and WHEREAS, Braille provides people who are blind with the power of knowledge, expanding their opportunities and equipping them with the tools to be productive and imaginative contributors to society; and WHEREAS, Contrary to popular belief, Braille is not difficult to learn, nor is reading Braille slower than reading print; and WHEREAS, While technology has improved the lives of blind people by facilitating quick access to information, no technology can replace Braille literacy since literacy is the ability to read and write and to do both interactively; and WHEREAS, Despite Braille's efficiency, versatility, and universal acceptance by the blind, the rate of Braille literacy in the United States has declined to the point where only 10 percent of blind children are learning to read and write Braille; and WHEREAS, Just as a literacy rate of 10 percent among this nation's sighted children would be rightly viewed as a crisis and as cause for national outrage, the decline in Braille literacy is a crisis, and swift action must be taken to reverse this dangerous trend; and WHEREAS, Braille literacy is the key to independence, productivity, and success for blind people, as evidenced by the fact that, while 70 percent of the blind are unemployed, 85 percent of those who are employed use Braille; and WHEREAS, The United States Congress officially recognized the importance of Braille by passing the Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act, authorizing the striking of a United States silver dollar in commemoration of the two hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille; and WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people and the leading advocate for Braille literacy, has launched a national "Braille Readers are Leaders" campaign to promote awareness of the importance of Braille and the magnitude of the Braille literacy crisis and to increase the availability of competent Braille instruction and of Braille reading materials in this country, with funding for said campaign to come from a portion of the proceeds of the sale of the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar; and WHEREAS, The National Federation of the Blind has today released a comprehensive report, "The Braille Literacy Crisis in America--Facing the Truth, Reversing the Trend, Empowering the Blind", and the United States Mint has this day released the Louis Braille Bicentennial Silver Dollar for purchase by the general public; now, therefore, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the Sixty-seventh General Assembly of the State of Colorado, the House of Representatives concurring herein: (1) That we, the members of the Colorado General Assembly, do hereby proclaim March 26, 2009, as National Braille Readers are Leaders Day, to celebrate the hope, opportunity, and power that literacy in Braille provides to the blind and to our nation; and (2) That we call upon all public officials, educators, and citizens -2- 031 throughout Colorado and this nation to recognize the importance of Braille in the lives of blind people and to assist the National Federation of the Blind in its efforts to increase instruction in and use of Braille in Colorado and across the United States. Be ItFurther Resolved, That copies of this Joint Resolution be sent to Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.; the members of the Colorado Congressional delegation; and Scott C. LaBarre, President, National Federation of the Blind of Colorado. -3- 031
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